I played steel tongue drums before and I always had problems with the tongues, they were too small, didn't resonate well and they were hard to play with your fingers. The Rav is something totally different: the tongues have a good size, they are nicely cut too, the resonance is? just 'Wow'! The drum is perfect to play with your hands and fingers. I am very happy that Thomann offers the Rav drum in his store, because now it is just that little easier to buy one.